Late to the Edmonds Car Show

 

9/8/24 Edmonds Car Show

After a morning that did not go to plan, I arrived at the Edmonds Classic Car Show much later than intended. Twenty minutes before the USk Seattle throwdown, I hastily sketched part of a ’61 Impala just to have something to throwdown! Afterwards, though, I had plenty of time to sketch more cars, including my favorite ’57 T-Bird convertible (one of my dream cars) – a pink one, at that!

Although not as large as the Greenwood Car Show, Edmonds has a more home-towny vibe. It was good to be back there with USk for the first time since before the pandemic.

Outside and inside Moto Pizza

When I finished sketching outside Moto Pizza, I caught up with Natalie inside as she finished her lunch and sketch. Specializing in Detroit-style pizza (get it? Moto?), the restaurant turned out to be a really fun place to sketch – lots of colorful ‘50s-themed décor, including a bench shaped like a vintage car front.

Other than some residual wildfire smoke, the afternoon was sunny with temps in the mid-70s – a welcome break from the high 80s we had been having the prior few days.

Although the store is called Moto Pizza, all the boxes say "Odd Pizza." I tried to get an explanation for this, but the response didn't make sense . . . I guess you had to be there.

I heart T-Bird convertibles! Especially a pink one!

Edmonds Classic Car Show

for the last two years, I've been sad to miss the Greenwood Car Show due to being out of town, so I was excited to see there was an alternative in Edmonds. It was actually my first car show ever, but certainly not the last. it was cooler than I thought it would be! Something about classic cars is really attractive to urban sketchers everywhere...something I discovered at the Symposium this year.

The only way it could have been better is if there were more motorcycles & scooters. Why not?? There were only one or two present at the show that I saw. I'll definitely go to a vintage scooter/motorcycle show. 

 I enjoyed the little personal touches on some of the vehicles, like the little flags on this old Ford (?). I met the owner, named Dennis, and he told me some fun facts about it, such as: the license plate, 191-030, tells us it's made in 1930 (first and last two digits) in October (middle digits, 1-0). there were two models in 1930, so you have to know which part of the year the car was made in to get the proper replacement parts for it. amazing that you still can get those for this 90 year old vehicle.

One of the 15 classic VW Beetles, all unique from each other! I liked the styling of the old luggage on top. At this point it was pouring buckets so I sheltered under an awning with some of the owners who told me about their cool VW gang -- they all go on drives and go camping and stuff together. It's a whole community. 

 A little further down the Volkswagen area, I drew this charming rusty cerulean microbus (1964 Kombi) with an attached tarp. The owner, Chris, was REALLY pumped about my drawing and we started chatting, he gave me a chair to use while I painted, and eventually he offered me a ride back to Seattle (since my ride home was leaving soon and I wanted to stay longer). It seemed like a cool opportunity so I took him up on it. We drove back with Chris's girlfriend and their dog in front, with me sitting on a lawn chair in the main cabin area. We all had to lean to one side of the van on curves to help it out with turning! It was incredibly loud with the engine (no insulation inside); seems like the vehicle has seen some harsh winters before Chris got ahold of it. We exchanged contact info after the ride so hopefully there are more opportunities to sketch cool old VW cars in my future. I love these encounters that happen as a result of sketching!

Elvis Sighting at Edmonds Car Show

9/8/19 '50s Chevy at the Edmonds Car Show

9/8/19 Elvis sighting!

Driving up I-5 as my intermittent windshield wipers took care of the drizzle, I was afraid I might be the only sketcher at the Edmonds Classic Car & Motorcycle Show. I was very wrong! Undeterred by the “chance of showers,” a good size group of USk Seattle showed up, and we were even rewarded with a little sunshine in time for the throwdown.

Although a bit smaller than the Greenwood Car Show (which I’ve sketched many times), Edmonds’ show was no less enthusiastic, and oldies music matched the vintage of many classic cars on exhibit. Even Elvis was there, dressed in a bright pink shirt and Hawaiian lei!

I felt a bit wistful sketching the bright red 50s-era Chevy (top of post), not because of the car but because of the maples behind it – just beginning to turn. It’s always hard to let summer go.

Since I don’t sketch in Edmonds often, I took advantage of the opportunity to include some local architecture behind a mint green ’68 Chevy Biscayne – the Edmonds Theater. Built in 1923, this single-screen theater has been owned and operated by the same family for more than 30 years.

9/8/19 Edmonds Theater and '68 Chevy Biscayne

After the throwdown, a few of us went to lunch at Las Brisas Mexican restaurant, which conveniently seated us on its patio facing the street. While splitting my burrito with Natalie, I had a great view of a ’71 AMC Javelin. (All of us concurred that even if you’ve had practice sketching contemporary cars, the proportions of vintage cars are especially challenging! They are somehow always longer than they could possibly be.)

9/8/19 '71 AMC Javelin

Just as I got back into my car, it started pouring and continued raining all the way home. Impeccable timing, USk Seattle!

Undeterred by a little drizzle!

Lunch with a view at Las Brisas